Tag: Nightmare Before Dinner

Silence of the Lamb Chops

December 31st not only marks the end of the year but also the birthday of actor Anthony Hopkins.  Let’s celebrate both events with a  delicious recipe from Zach Neil’s The Nightmare Before Dinner called…well you already know… Silence of the Lamb Chops!   This was the very first recipe I wanted to cook from this book because, for me, Silence of The Lambs is a perfect film. 

Silence of The Lamb Chops3

The actors are stunning, the direction is flawless, the script is tight, the cinematography is en pointe.  For my mind, Silence of the Lambs has no weak link.  Plus…and this one I could be wrong on this one but in my mind, Hannibal Lector defined a new type of movie villain.  Intelligent, eloquent, charming…he is a bit Hans Gruberesque….but at the end of the day, however, suave Gruber was, we were all happy when he fell to his death.  No one wants Hannibal to die.  We’re glad he escapes. And let’s be clear.  He is a monster.  And therein lies the magic of the Silence of the Lambs. 

I had thought I’d taken a million photos of the Silence of the Lamb Chops.

 

I totally did.  It was so good.  The chops are marinated in olive oil, garlic, rosemary and apple cider then grilled.  They are served with a mushroom and apple sauce which was great.  An unusual combination but it worked really well with the lamb.  This is then drizzled with a glaze made from raspberry preserves and soy sauce which is again an odd combination but works well.  The Silence Of The Lamb Chops is like a flavour explosion.  There is the herby, fattiness of the lamb set against the earthiness of the mushrooms and the apple.  The sweet and salty raspberry soy sauce acts as a highlight, a little oomph!

I served mine on a bed of mashed potatoes which added a creamy element. If you wanted to though, you could serve it…. 

Here’s the recipe:

Silence of The Lamb Chops1

And here’s my only other photo:

ilence of The Lamb Chops5

So, it’s the end of the year.  Time for me say a massive

to you all for reading and commenting and being a part of my tiny corner of the internet. It’s been another amazing year.  I think my highlight was Pieathalon in London and getting to share pies with fellow pieathletes Jenny from Silver Screen Suppers and Battenberg Belle.

Stay tuned for 2019, I think it’s going to be just as much fun!

Have a great week  And a fabulous New Year.  

May all your dreams and wishes come true. Love you lots! 

 

 

The Nine Cocktail

The Nine is a delicious cocktail from “The Nightmare Before Dinner” the book I mentioned last week in the post on Beetle Pie. The book features recipes from Beetle House, Zack Neill’s Tim Burton inspired restaurants located in Los Angeles and New York.

Tim Burton + food?  You had me at hello!  😍

The Nine Cocktail4

I love a sour cocktail and The Nine is the best blend of sweet, sour and apple flavours.

And it’s a great colour!  An almost iridescent green.  You can almost imagine it glowing in the dark.  It doesn’t (I checked) but it looks as if it might!  This is a fun cocktail  As is the book it came from!

If you like your food to come with a pun (and I think by now we all know that I do!) or you are a fan of Tim Burton, or you want to dine at Beetle House but can’t afford the flight to New York or L.A, then this book is for you!  Or the film buff in your life! Christmas is coming peeps….

The Nightmare before Dinner begins with Sauces and Dips for the Recently Deceased – my favourite being the Veruca Sauce! To be used only when you “want an Oompa Loompa now, Daddy, now”…or, probably more commonly, to put over chicken, fish or veggies as it is a delicious sounding honey butter garlic sauce.

 

And with all due respect to Tim Burton – there will only ever be one Verucca Salt.  (And just so we’re clear? It’s not his version)

The next chapter is caled The Nightmares Before Dinner.  This contains recipes for items like Hallowpeno Honey Cheddar Cornbread, Charlie Corn Bucket and Beetle Bacon Bread….just listen to this mouthwatering description

“It’s a hearty sundried tomato and bacon “pizza” with a sweet balsamic reduction, soft mozzarella cheese and crisp scallions”

Here’s the picture from the book:

Beetle Bacon Bread

How I good does that look? Let me tell you a little secret into my obviously maladjusted childhood.  When I was a child, apparently I would kiss the tv screen whenever my favourite handsome boy of the moment would appear.  This picture kind of made me want to lick the screen…

I didn’t!!!!!  I swear  I didn’t!

And let’s never talk about any of this ever again.

The next chapter, Soups and Salads for The Living contains, of course, a Giant Peach Salad.  The Macarbre Mains section has an Edward Burger Hands, a Shrimpy Hollow and my very, very favourite….ah no.  I’m saving that one for a special occasion.

But the Edward Burger Hands sounds delish!  And a lot easier to eat than this meal!

I won’t take you through all the chapters because I think you should have a taste for the book now.

See what I did there? A taste for the book?

Oh…Kay.  moving swiftly along…the final chapter is how you can put together the various meals to have themed parties.  It also offers suggestions for table and room decorations so you can really set the scene!!!!  Here are both the menu and the scene suggestions for an Edward party!

Edward Party

Edward Party2

The joy of The Nightmare before Dinner lies in that it is seriously good food and cocktails that don’t take themselves to seriously.  Hmmm…sounds kind of like the ethos of this here blog…no wonder I like it so much!

Here’s the recipe for The Nine:

The Nine Recipe

 

The Nine Cocktail2

Now, let’s all make ourselves The Nine and jump in the line…..

Day -O….

Many thanks to Net Galley and Quarto Publishing for the ARC of The Nightmare Before Dinner.

Have a wonderful week.  I”m going to binge on Tim Burton films.  Speaking of which…what’s your favourite?

Mine is an absolute four-way tie between Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, Ed Wood and Pee Wee’s Big Adventure.

Signature 1 Vintage Valentine Quick as Wink2